the importance of community.

Our little farmhouse has had a revolving door of (awesome) visitors lately {warning: onslaught of photos to come soon}. Life has been so very full and rich. Calendars have been packed full with activities and playdates with friends.

It’s sort of too much. These two are ridiculously adorable together.

I should be filled up. I should be energized. Instead, last night it hit me, I am exhausted. As I look at the week ahead, I feel overwhelmed with the over-scheduling of our time.

I *know* I need to have margin in our life. I *know* we function better as a family when we have time to slow down and breathe. I *know* that long days spent at home, with nowhere to be and nothing pressing that needs to be done are fulfilling.

I need to be intentional with our time. I need to be intentional with each of my kids. I need to be intentional with my husband. I need to be intentional with my friends. It sounds so simple and lovely, doesn’t it? In reality, it is so very difficult to live out.

Commitments are made for things that are, in and of themselves, a good way to spend my time. Yet, when these commitments are stacked one upon the other upon the other, they become heavy.

Last night, my ridiculously thoughtful husband {who knows me so well}, told me to get in the car and go to the store {I had completely forgotten to purchase the black pants and black shirts needed for my little pilgrims in today’s Thanksgiving program at school until 5pm last night}, while he watched the three older kiddos. He knew that I was dreading dragging everyone into Wal-Mart at that hour. So, I bundled up lil’ Charlotte and off we went.

Then, my phone rang. It was Dave. He was calling to tell me to go pick up my friend, Erin. I was so confused but thought maybe she needed to go to Wal-Mart too. So, I called her. She laughed and said that our husbands were cohorts in getting us out of the house for an evening out. Then, Corrie called. She asked if I was on my way to get her. Dave had called her husband too.

So, there I was. In my yoga pants, sweatshirt and no make-up, driving my mini-van to pick up my friends for an impromptu girl’s night out. We went to dinner and talked and laughed and shared our struggles and parenting advice and our hearts. Those girls offered grace upon grace. They understand this season of my life like few others can. They are both adoptive mommas and mommas to four. They know the road we are walking better than anyone and can offer wisdom that only comes from the rear-view mirror of life.

We sat at that table for almost four hours. It was exactly what we all needed. We came to the table depleted and left full.

With the holiday season approaching at a neck-breaking speed, I am staking my marker in the sand. I am going to say no to certain things in order to create room for evenings like last night. Hours set aside to do nothing other than be with loved ones. No productivity. No checks on my to-do list. Nothing other than relationships. Real, honest, life-breathing relationships that cannot be replaced with screens. Sharing moments that replenish and restore.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. {Hebrews 10: 24-25}

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Comments

Ahhh I needed to read this. It's so easy to get caught up on our schedules and to-do lists, and routines. Sometimes its challenging to just stop, be still and do NOTHING… but it's so necessary. Creating balance between busy and rest is the key to my sanity. Thanks for sharing this Jenny, I truly enjoy reading Blessings and Raindrops??

I wish I could've swung by and picked you up too! 🙂 miss you! {Yeah, it was a pretty good move on his part!}

Hi there! I'm Jenny, wife to Dave and momma to four littles. My desire for this blog is to tell the stories God is writing in my own life with the purpose of encouraging you, dear reader, to seek joy in the midst of the ordinary and to relentlessly pursue Hope even when brokenness is abundant.